Atlantic cod among endangered wildlife: Committee
By Margaret Munro, Canwest News Service May 3, 2010 Comments (5)
StoryPhotos ( 2 )
More Images » Atlantic cod fish.Photograph by: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images, Canwest News ServiceAtlantic cod, an Ontario bumblebee and a western pine tree should be added to Canada's grim list of endangered species, says a national committee that tracks more than 600 wildlife species at risk across the country.
Decades of unsustainable harvesting have depleted three of the four cod stocks in Atlantic Canada by 90 per cent or more since the 1960s, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada said Monday, announcing it will recommend to the federal government that cod and several other species be listed as endangered.
Long the economic and dietary mainstay of Maritime communities, cod is in danger from Labrador South to Nova Scotia, the committee said.
"Continuing directed fisheries and bycatch, combined with major changes in marine food webs in some areas, have significantly reduced the ability of cod populations south of Baffin Island to rebuild," said COSEWIC, which has just completed an assessment of the dwindling stocks.
"Except along the northeast of Newfoundland, cod stocks continue to decline, some in the absence of fishing, and others are still being fished and not being allowed to rebuild," said Jeffrey Hutchings, a fisheries biologist at Dalhousie University and outgoing COSEWIC chair.
"Every cod stock is below — and some of them way below — their conservation limits right now," he said in an interview.
The "scariest part" of the assessment dealt with cod in the southern Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Hutchings said. It was the largest cod stock in the world in mid-80s and is now predicted to be potentially gone within 40 years — even if harvesting stops.
"The fishing has pushed the cod to such a low level they have passed their tipping point," said Hutchings.
He said the situation has worsened since 2003, when COSEWIC recommended the government list one cod "unit" as endangered; now all four "units" from Labrador south are in danger.
The government usually acts on COSEWIC's recommendations when it comes to birds and bees — but not when it comes to commercially harvested creatures like cod. In fact, the government rejected a 2003 recommendation to list the cod as endangered because of "socio-economic" concerns.
Hutchings noted that listing cod as endangered would legally require the federal government to develop and implement a recovery strategy.
"That would be a big advantage," he said.
COSEWIC — which met in late April to assess 51 species — said a once-common bumblebee is also endangered.
The Rusty-Patched Bumblebee was once an important pollinator, especially for early- and late-flowering native plants in southern Ontario, but has now all but vanished. "Despite extensive surveys over the past decade, only three individuals of this distinctive bee have been found, all at one site," the committee said.
The reason remains a mystery but pesticides, disease, parasites, and loss of habitat appear to be affecting pollinators worldwide, it said.
The committee said climate change is increasing the risk of extinction for many species in Western Canada, such as the Whitebark Pine that grows at high elevations in the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain ranges.
"The principal threat to this tree is an infectious fungus called blister rust, but the cumulative impacts of climate change, mountain pine beetle infestations and fire suppression have all contributed to an ongoing population reduction of 70 per cent," said the committee, which has assessed the Whitebark Pine as endangered.
"Climate change is also a contributing factor in the loss of habitat for the charismatic Flammulated Owl, a small bird dependent on the mature coniferous forests of British Columbia's interior regions," it said.
The mountain pine beetle, no longer kept in check by cold winters, is reducing the owl's habitat. "This, in combination with ongoing logging of mature trees and the potential for an increase in catastrophic forest fires, led to a designation of special concern for the owl."
On a more positive note, the committee said the whooping crane is slowing coming back from the brink of extinction. There were only 14 of the birds left in 1938, but close to 250 of the cranes will be heading to its nesting site in Wood Buffalo National Park this year.
While the committee said the crane is still endangered, Hutchings said there is hope it will be "secure" within 10 years.
The crane still faces multiple threats including ongoing degradation of over-wintering habitat along the coast of Texas.
Hutchings couldn't say if the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will compound that risk.
COSEWIC, which is composed of wildlife specialists from across the country, will submit its full assessments to the federal environment minister this summer. There are now 602 wildlife species in various COSEWIC categories, including 262 endangered, 151 threatened, 166 of special concern, and 23 extirpated and no longer found in Canada's wild.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Pests Plaguing Your Garden?
From the Chicago Tribune
If slugs and snails and assorted bugs are making a hash of your garden, call in some web-footed enforcers. (TMS photo / April 26, 2010)
By Sean Conway
Tribune Media Services
May 3, 2010
E-mail Print Share Text Size
When I was a kid, whenever it rained my mother would always say, "It's a good day for ducks." Nowadays, I actually own a small flock of ducks, and I can tell you it's true: They don't mind a rainy day at all.
Ducks have other singular attributes as well. Anyone who owns them will tell you that ducks are excellent to have around the garden because they eat a variety of insects and other pests, including the mortal enemies of every gardener: slugs and snails.
My property has a stream on one side and a pond on another, and consequently is a haven for slugs. The first few years after I moved there, it seemed every plant I put in the ground was shredded to bits. That all changed shortly after I got my ducks.
Ducks are easy to keep. They are quieter than chickens, and don't require a lot of space. They also won't scratch up a garden as chickens will, and they're really quite comical to watch as they roam around the yard searching for tasty slugs! Plus, their eggs are wonderful to cook with.
You don't need a pond to keep ducks, as long as you provide them with ample water. Guests to my garden always ask me where I got my ducks, and most are surprised to learn I ordered them through the mail. (For more information about mail-order ducks, visit cultivatinglife.com and learn how easy it is to raise a few ducks of your own.)
Before you commit to purchasing ducks for your property, make sure there is no ordinance where you live barring you from actually owning ducks.
Ducks come in all shapes and a range of colors. If you live near wetlands or a pond, you might try luring some of the most attractive wild ducks to your neighborhood by putting up a nesting box for wood ducks. Wood ducks' range extends up and down both coasts of the United States and throughout the South. Their nesting range extends from the east coast of Nova Scotia west to the north central United States.
Unlike most of their web-footed relatives, wood ducks prefer to nest in tree cavities and will readily accept nesting boxes. These boxes are easy to make, and they're making a difference in restoring the population of this extraordinarily beautiful duck. Mike Tucker of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island demonstrated how easy it is to make a nesting box suitable for wood ducks. (You can view the project on the Web site too.)
The best design is a long upright box fastened at the back panel to a post or tree. Use durable 1-by-12 cedar board cut to 24 inches for the front and sides. Cut the board at 32 inches for the back; cut the bottom board to fit inside the sideboards and the top board at 16 inches for a little overhang. Fasten the boards with galvanized screws, and attach the roof with hinges to the backboard. Attach a screw eye and hook to a sideboard and the roof edge to secure the roof.
The most important dimension in the nesting box is the entry hole. Using a jigsaw, cut an elliptical hole in the front board, 3 inches high and 4 inches wide. This allows the wood ducks to get in and keeps predators out. Attach quarter-inch hardware inside the box under the hole. Fill the box with wood shavings and attach 10 to 30 feet high on a tree or post.
With luck, beautiful wood ducks will pay you annual visits for years to come.
Sean Conway is host of the TV show "Cultivating Life," which airs on Saturdays on WGN-America and on CLTV at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays. His Web site is cultivatinglife.com.
If slugs and snails and assorted bugs are making a hash of your garden, call in some web-footed enforcers. (TMS photo / April 26, 2010)
By Sean Conway
Tribune Media Services
May 3, 2010
E-mail Print Share Text Size
When I was a kid, whenever it rained my mother would always say, "It's a good day for ducks." Nowadays, I actually own a small flock of ducks, and I can tell you it's true: They don't mind a rainy day at all.
Ducks have other singular attributes as well. Anyone who owns them will tell you that ducks are excellent to have around the garden because they eat a variety of insects and other pests, including the mortal enemies of every gardener: slugs and snails.
My property has a stream on one side and a pond on another, and consequently is a haven for slugs. The first few years after I moved there, it seemed every plant I put in the ground was shredded to bits. That all changed shortly after I got my ducks.
Ducks are easy to keep. They are quieter than chickens, and don't require a lot of space. They also won't scratch up a garden as chickens will, and they're really quite comical to watch as they roam around the yard searching for tasty slugs! Plus, their eggs are wonderful to cook with.
You don't need a pond to keep ducks, as long as you provide them with ample water. Guests to my garden always ask me where I got my ducks, and most are surprised to learn I ordered them through the mail. (For more information about mail-order ducks, visit cultivatinglife.com and learn how easy it is to raise a few ducks of your own.)
Before you commit to purchasing ducks for your property, make sure there is no ordinance where you live barring you from actually owning ducks.
Ducks come in all shapes and a range of colors. If you live near wetlands or a pond, you might try luring some of the most attractive wild ducks to your neighborhood by putting up a nesting box for wood ducks. Wood ducks' range extends up and down both coasts of the United States and throughout the South. Their nesting range extends from the east coast of Nova Scotia west to the north central United States.
Unlike most of their web-footed relatives, wood ducks prefer to nest in tree cavities and will readily accept nesting boxes. These boxes are easy to make, and they're making a difference in restoring the population of this extraordinarily beautiful duck. Mike Tucker of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island demonstrated how easy it is to make a nesting box suitable for wood ducks. (You can view the project on the Web site too.)
The best design is a long upright box fastened at the back panel to a post or tree. Use durable 1-by-12 cedar board cut to 24 inches for the front and sides. Cut the board at 32 inches for the back; cut the bottom board to fit inside the sideboards and the top board at 16 inches for a little overhang. Fasten the boards with galvanized screws, and attach the roof with hinges to the backboard. Attach a screw eye and hook to a sideboard and the roof edge to secure the roof.
The most important dimension in the nesting box is the entry hole. Using a jigsaw, cut an elliptical hole in the front board, 3 inches high and 4 inches wide. This allows the wood ducks to get in and keeps predators out. Attach quarter-inch hardware inside the box under the hole. Fill the box with wood shavings and attach 10 to 30 feet high on a tree or post.
With luck, beautiful wood ducks will pay you annual visits for years to come.
Sean Conway is host of the TV show "Cultivating Life," which airs on Saturdays on WGN-America and on CLTV at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays. His Web site is cultivatinglife.com.
Labels:
nature gardens ducks
Local Asparagus Yum!
Blogger's Note: I have been to this place. The people there are really nice! Peaches, grapes there too, when ready. It's on Hwy. 1 between Annap and Bridgetown, but much closer to Annap. Call the phone number given for house number.
From Nick and Valerie Glab: We have started picking asparagus over the weekend and should have it out unless we sell out for the day.
If you know that you will be coming by, please call (665-2732) and we will set some aside. We suggest at least 24 hrs notice for orders, otherwise it is catch as catch can.
Nick & Valerie Glab
From Nick and Valerie Glab: We have started picking asparagus over the weekend and should have it out unless we sell out for the day.
If you know that you will be coming by, please call (665-2732) and we will set some aside. We suggest at least 24 hrs notice for orders, otherwise it is catch as catch can.
Nick & Valerie Glab
Monday, May 3, 2010
ADEDA News
Bright Ideas Abound
Last week the Annapolis Valley Campus (AVC) of the Nova Scotia Community College announced the winners of its annual Innovative Business Ideas Competition. Understandably, given the AVC’s pioneering programs, the winning ideas focused on new technology and energy management. Whether you’re turning on your lights or turning on your ignition, you have to admire these young entrepreneurial initiatives. And the bright minds that have chosen to learn here.
Ici On Parle Français
Innovative new learning is only one part of the Annapolis Digby educational equation, as demonstrated by students from Digby last week. This is a region that prides itself on preserving its multi-cultural heritage, and that’s evident in the traditional academic excellence displayed by the four students, who were among regional winners in the recent Concours d’art oratoire. Next stop is the provincial French speaking competition. Bonne chance.
Weymouth Gets the Butterflies
But that’s not a bad thing - as a matter of fact, it’s sort of what they’re hoping for. Not to be outdone by their older peers, these younger students decided to focus on their environmental prowess as Annapolis Digby celebrated Earth Day.
No Idle Chatter
OK – it may give pause for thought to town employees who may want to nip over to a local drive-through for their lunch break. But Digby’s walking a sustainable path these days, and proving that sometimes an environmental “turn off” is a good thing.
Always Ready To Raise Their Hands
Sometimes the fun stuff for we newsletter editors is to focus on the new, the innovative, the groundbreaking, etc. ...yadayada...But let’s face it, what makes Annapolis Digby truly great is the continuing steadfastness of folks here to our traditional values of mutual caring, selfless enterprise and total commitment to this community. And a number of Annapolis area residents were deservedly recognized recently by the province’s Premier for those intrinsic values.
Sustainable Agriculture Becoming a Capital Idea
Annapolis Digby has long been a regional hotbed for advocates and adherents of community sustainable agriculture. Now it looks like the idea is finally catching the eyes – and the resources – of enlightened investors globally.
Finally, if you spent the weekend watching the Kentucky Derby with a Mint Julep in hand, you can continue in that languorous ambiance this weekend as everyone will be “Celebrating Magnolias in Annapolis Royal”, which rightly bills itself as Nova Scotia’s Magnolia Capital. You can take advantage of garden tours, gardening demonstrations, related community events – or just stand and sniff the air. Check things out at www.celebratingmagnolias.wordpress.com. OK– I have a white linen suit, can do a passable Rhett Butler impersonation (frankly Scarlett...), now if I can just find one of those neat Colonel Sanders ties...
Last week the Annapolis Valley Campus (AVC) of the Nova Scotia Community College announced the winners of its annual Innovative Business Ideas Competition. Understandably, given the AVC’s pioneering programs, the winning ideas focused on new technology and energy management. Whether you’re turning on your lights or turning on your ignition, you have to admire these young entrepreneurial initiatives. And the bright minds that have chosen to learn here.
Ici On Parle Français
Innovative new learning is only one part of the Annapolis Digby educational equation, as demonstrated by students from Digby last week. This is a region that prides itself on preserving its multi-cultural heritage, and that’s evident in the traditional academic excellence displayed by the four students, who were among regional winners in the recent Concours d’art oratoire. Next stop is the provincial French speaking competition. Bonne chance.
Weymouth Gets the Butterflies
But that’s not a bad thing - as a matter of fact, it’s sort of what they’re hoping for. Not to be outdone by their older peers, these younger students decided to focus on their environmental prowess as Annapolis Digby celebrated Earth Day.
No Idle Chatter
OK – it may give pause for thought to town employees who may want to nip over to a local drive-through for their lunch break. But Digby’s walking a sustainable path these days, and proving that sometimes an environmental “turn off” is a good thing.
Always Ready To Raise Their Hands
Sometimes the fun stuff for we newsletter editors is to focus on the new, the innovative, the groundbreaking, etc. ...yadayada...But let’s face it, what makes Annapolis Digby truly great is the continuing steadfastness of folks here to our traditional values of mutual caring, selfless enterprise and total commitment to this community. And a number of Annapolis area residents were deservedly recognized recently by the province’s Premier for those intrinsic values.
Sustainable Agriculture Becoming a Capital Idea
Annapolis Digby has long been a regional hotbed for advocates and adherents of community sustainable agriculture. Now it looks like the idea is finally catching the eyes – and the resources – of enlightened investors globally.
Finally, if you spent the weekend watching the Kentucky Derby with a Mint Julep in hand, you can continue in that languorous ambiance this weekend as everyone will be “Celebrating Magnolias in Annapolis Royal”, which rightly bills itself as Nova Scotia’s Magnolia Capital. You can take advantage of garden tours, gardening demonstrations, related community events – or just stand and sniff the air. Check things out at www.celebratingmagnolias.wordpress.com. OK– I have a white linen suit, can do a passable Rhett Butler impersonation (frankly Scarlett...), now if I can just find one of those neat Colonel Sanders ties...
Labels:
ADEDA Annapolis Digby
UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve 12 Principles of Community Change [read decision-making processes] developed by the Berkana Institute (www.berkana.org).
1. People support what they create.Are all the stakeholders engaged? - invite them to co-create
2. People act most responsibly when they care. Do people care about the issue being wo...rked on? How do we know?
3. Conversation is the way humans think together. What if conversation was the real work?
4. To change the conversation, change who is in the conversation. What new voices can be invited who haven’t been heard before?
5. Expect leadership to come from anywhere. Be open to being surprised by who steps forward.
6. Focus on what is possible and what works, not on what went wrong. What energizes you?
7. The wisdom lies within us. What is the next level of growing? Look within communities to find the answers.
8. How do we react in time of failure? Be curious.
9. Learning is the only way to become smarter about what we do. What do we learn from our experiences?
10. Meaningful work is a powerful motivator.
11. Power is in staying together. Are we paying enough attention to each other?
Whatever the problem, the community is the answer www.berkana.org
1. People support what they create.Are all the stakeholders engaged? - invite them to co-create
2. People act most responsibly when they care. Do people care about the issue being wo...rked on? How do we know?
3. Conversation is the way humans think together. What if conversation was the real work?
4. To change the conversation, change who is in the conversation. What new voices can be invited who haven’t been heard before?
5. Expect leadership to come from anywhere. Be open to being surprised by who steps forward.
6. Focus on what is possible and what works, not on what went wrong. What energizes you?
7. The wisdom lies within us. What is the next level of growing? Look within communities to find the answers.
8. How do we react in time of failure? Be curious.
9. Learning is the only way to become smarter about what we do. What do we learn from our experiences?
10. Meaningful work is a powerful motivator.
11. Power is in staying together. Are we paying enough attention to each other?
Whatever the problem, the community is the answer www.berkana.org
Labels:
Community change
The Feds Fund Maritime Harbour Upgrades
Maritime harbours get federal upgrade funds
Last Updated: Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 1:18 PM AT Comments84Recommend28CBC News
Small craft harbours across the Maritimes are getting $30 million for upgrade and repair work.
Peter McKay, the federal cabinet minister responsible for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, announced $12 million in funding for N.S. harbours Saturday at Fisherman's Cove, just outside Halifax.
Another $15 million will go to New Brunswick, while $3 million is allocated for P.E.I. The money is part of a national program that provides $67 million for the more than 1,000 small craft harbours in Canada.
"You see the wharf here — where it's all caved in over here? It's breaking away here and if you look from here, she's parting here," said Pherne Barkhouse, of Fisherman's Cove Harbour Authority, providing a tour and explaining why the funding is needed.
Fisherman's Cove attracts fishermen from across the Maritimes during the herring and tuna seasons, said Barkhouse.
At peak times the boats are tied up 10 vessels side-by-side along the dock, he said.
Pleasure boating is also growing as development in Nova Scotia's Eastern Passage expands.
"See, these people live in the community and it's hard to say they can't bring their boat here and tie up at the wharf. It's not fair really," said harbour authority president John Silver.
Silver wants to build floating docks that will form a "T" off the main wharf, to accommodate pleasure craft. It's not known how much that project would cost or how much of the federal funding Fisherman's Cove might receive.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/05/02/ns-small-harbours-money.html#ixzz0mufwPKuW
Last Updated: Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 1:18 PM AT Comments84Recommend28CBC News
Small craft harbours across the Maritimes are getting $30 million for upgrade and repair work.
Peter McKay, the federal cabinet minister responsible for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, announced $12 million in funding for N.S. harbours Saturday at Fisherman's Cove, just outside Halifax.
Another $15 million will go to New Brunswick, while $3 million is allocated for P.E.I. The money is part of a national program that provides $67 million for the more than 1,000 small craft harbours in Canada.
"You see the wharf here — where it's all caved in over here? It's breaking away here and if you look from here, she's parting here," said Pherne Barkhouse, of Fisherman's Cove Harbour Authority, providing a tour and explaining why the funding is needed.
Fisherman's Cove attracts fishermen from across the Maritimes during the herring and tuna seasons, said Barkhouse.
At peak times the boats are tied up 10 vessels side-by-side along the dock, he said.
Pleasure boating is also growing as development in Nova Scotia's Eastern Passage expands.
"See, these people live in the community and it's hard to say they can't bring their boat here and tie up at the wharf. It's not fair really," said harbour authority president John Silver.
Silver wants to build floating docks that will form a "T" off the main wharf, to accommodate pleasure craft. It's not known how much that project would cost or how much of the federal funding Fisherman's Cove might receive.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/05/02/ns-small-harbours-money.html#ixzz0mufwPKuW
Apple Crops Deal with Cold Nights
NS: Don’t panic: Kings crop should be fine
By Jennifer Hoegg, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Kings County Advertiser, May 3/10
Topics: Aylesford, Kingston, Port Williams
[AYLESFORD, NS] – A mild winter and early spring weather have buds bursting much earlier than usual. Early bloomers ran into trouble recently when frost hit low-lying orchards.
Bill Craig, tree fruit specialist with AgraPoint, says lows overnight April 13 and 14 damaged fruit trees in several areas. Temperatures stayed as low as -3.5 for several hours and “most orchards have some damage” – the worst he has seen since 1986.
The extent depends on location and cultivar: crops vary in timing and hardiness, Craig says. Damage is reported in Kingston, Aylesford, Woodville, Grafton and Port Williams.
“Most of the damage has happened in Gravensteins. There is quite a bit in McIntosh, which I was surprised to see, as I consider those hardy; some in Cortland and some in Jona Gold.”
The newer Honeycrisp, a popular export to U.S. markets, is just fine and Scotian Gold’s brand new SweeTango had no damage.
“I haven’t seen any damage in peaches or plums, but I have seen some in cherries. Very little in pears,” Craig says.
He points out the temperatures were normal for April, but “what isn’t ordinary is our trees are further along than they should be.”
Before mid-month cooler temperatures, trees were three or more weeks ahead. Blossoms are still two weeks ahead of schedule.
“On Thursday and Friday, I drove from one end of the Valley to the other,” Larry Lutz, crop specialist at Scotian Gold. “In one block in Aylesford, the Macintosh suffered quite a bit, the Cortlands had some, Ida Red had none.”
Don’t panic, Lutz says. As only one to two per cent of blossoms need to set fruit for a good crop, it’s “nowhere near a disaster.” Although he has seen 85 per cent damage in one block, most damage is lighter.
“It may look very bad starting out and still give you a full crop,” Lutz says.
“Some growers will notice a difference,” Craig says. “We won’t know the total impact of that frost until fruit set, sometime in late-May.”
By Jennifer Hoegg, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Kings County Advertiser, May 3/10
Topics: Aylesford, Kingston, Port Williams
[AYLESFORD, NS] – A mild winter and early spring weather have buds bursting much earlier than usual. Early bloomers ran into trouble recently when frost hit low-lying orchards.
Bill Craig, tree fruit specialist with AgraPoint, says lows overnight April 13 and 14 damaged fruit trees in several areas. Temperatures stayed as low as -3.5 for several hours and “most orchards have some damage” – the worst he has seen since 1986.
The extent depends on location and cultivar: crops vary in timing and hardiness, Craig says. Damage is reported in Kingston, Aylesford, Woodville, Grafton and Port Williams.
“Most of the damage has happened in Gravensteins. There is quite a bit in McIntosh, which I was surprised to see, as I consider those hardy; some in Cortland and some in Jona Gold.”
The newer Honeycrisp, a popular export to U.S. markets, is just fine and Scotian Gold’s brand new SweeTango had no damage.
“I haven’t seen any damage in peaches or plums, but I have seen some in cherries. Very little in pears,” Craig says.
He points out the temperatures were normal for April, but “what isn’t ordinary is our trees are further along than they should be.”
Before mid-month cooler temperatures, trees were three or more weeks ahead. Blossoms are still two weeks ahead of schedule.
“On Thursday and Friday, I drove from one end of the Valley to the other,” Larry Lutz, crop specialist at Scotian Gold. “In one block in Aylesford, the Macintosh suffered quite a bit, the Cortlands had some, Ida Red had none.”
Don’t panic, Lutz says. As only one to two per cent of blossoms need to set fruit for a good crop, it’s “nowhere near a disaster.” Although he has seen 85 per cent damage in one block, most damage is lighter.
“It may look very bad starting out and still give you a full crop,” Lutz says.
“Some growers will notice a difference,” Craig says. “We won’t know the total impact of that frost until fruit set, sometime in late-May.”
Labels:
apples nova scotia
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